I'm going to have to ask why - not that I disbelieve you. I'm just intrigued to know

The flintlock is easy to service & repair if you carry a few spare springs & tools. IF you should run out of spare parts (though not likely because these guns are pretty robust), you can easily turn the flint lock into a matchlock & keep using it.
The lock can be used to make fire without using any gunpowder, but at the same time, gunpowder can be used with unprepared tinder to make fire with flint & steel.
A flintlock fusil or musket can digest round ball, bird shot, or swan shot (buckshot), or any combination of two of these together. You do not need to carry cartridges, but you can make cartridges for a smoothbore for faster reloading. Using a ball or bullet board also speeds reloading.
You can regulate how much charge you use IF you were getting low on gunpowder. You do not need to carry weighty reloading gear, all you need is a lead ladle & a ball mould.
Lead ball can be retrieved from shot game & is easily remoulded for use again. This fact means that you can carry less lead & more of the lighter gunpowder.
Apart from the powder horn, you can also carry extra gunpowder (black powder) in a powder bag. When a powder bag is empty of gunpowder, it is used to store spare tinder for fire lighting. Tinder stored in this manner is quick to catch a spark from flint & steel.
IF you were to run out of lead, other objects can be used in a survival situation. As the gun's ignition relies only on a hard sharp rock & a steel, suitable rocks can be found in most places should you run out of flints, but I always carry spares anyway. I think that covers it frewen.
Regards, Keith.
http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com.au/

Surviving what exactly? Unemployment? Unexpected illness? Hurricane Sandy? An ice storm? A drought? Or, the even more likely plague of zombies?

As Le Loup is in Australia I bet there's more reason to have something flexible if you're living away from the towns. Even in the UK where you don't seem to be more than half an hour from a supermarket I can see it's use. It would be cheaper to run than many guns and more rewarding to shoot for many. And something you can maintain yourself rather than wait 6 months for a part to be imported would be ideal as well.

My chosen weapon for the UK would be my Weiracht .177 air rifle. A bit heavy to carry around but deadly acurate for rabbits, pigeons and squirrels. I daredn't mention catapults and bows, or the Zombies would definately rise from the dead.

My chosen weapon for the UK would be my Weiracht .177 air rifle. A bit heavy to carry around but deadly acurate for rabbits, pigeons and squirrels. I daredn't mention catapults and bows, or the Zombies would definately rise from the dead.

I must concur i have the hw80 in .22 its heavy yes but when these pcps are gasping for filtered dried air i'll still be filling the pot.
long live the springers!!,btw nice to speak to a kindred spirit. All the best .....Magnet

Surviving what exactly? Unemployment? Unexpected illness? Hurricane Sandy? An ice storm? A drought? Or, the even more likely plague of
zombies?

why do people feel the need to take the piss? If you've nothing good to say why not say nowt at all.Take a bit of time and listen to this guy you would likley come away the better for it....Magnet

Educate me, surviving what exactly?

Any scenario that places you in a situation where you need a firearm or other tool for securing food when away from home/towns/cities long term. If you consider this unlikely or impossible, then my post does not consern you.
Keith.